Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

Anyone who thinks about eating at this time is disrespecting me.

Tom slowed his pace.

Now that Terry and Li Su are no longer suspected of being injured, I can relax a little and at least I don't need to be so nervous.

Following the trail left by the tracking magic, Tom and Garo walked through the Forbidden Forest.

"Tom, what's the good news you just told me?"

Now that they were safe, Galo moved closer to Tom and asked him about what Tom had just told her.

"Hmm... I remember you said you wanted to leave the Momo Mountains, right? You've been in the Momo Mountains for so long, it's time for you to leave."

Galo nodded, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a touch of regret.

"I really want to leave the Momo Mountains, but... I can't."

Tom, I have to keep that secret. Merlin cursed me, and I can't leave without permission.

Each time I'm allowed to leave the cave entrance, there's a time limit. This is Merlin's final act of mercy towards me; if I exceed that time, I will die.

Tom pursed his lips.

Merlin... that old man actually went to this extent.

"Can I break the curse?"

Gara shook his head: "Besides Merlin, I doubt anyone can break it. Curses are very mysterious, especially powerful wizards like Merlin. They developed their own curses, and outsiders can't possibly break them by learning them."

"The only way to remove the curse from me is for Merlin to take action himself..."

After Galo finished speaking, he saw the thoughtful look on Tom's face.

An idea suddenly flashed into her mind.

Tom wouldn't... actually be able to call Merlin over, would he?

"You won't..."

"Yes, I'll take you to Merlin in a while. I'll find a way to take Longwen away or destroy him directly, so don't worry about that."

You've stayed in the Momo Mountains for so long, it's time for you to leave.

But considering you've been a bodyguard for half your life..."

Before Tom could finish speaking, Galo interrupted him: "What do you mean, half a lifetime!"

We dragons have very long lifespans; this is only one-tenth of my dragon life!

She puffed out her chest with a hint of pride.

"Don't you get tired of being a bodyguard? If it were me, I would have gotten tired of it long ago."

Galo smiled and said, "Of course not. We dragons are very persistent. I could be your bodyguard for life!"

We dragons are the best at perseverance!

Tom, you should learn a thing or two from us. I was determined to protect Longwen for life, but... since you were able to get Merlin to break the curse for me, I'll give you that favor."

As soon as Galo finished speaking, Tom laughed: "Great, I thought you were tired of being a guard."

"Since that's the case, after you leave the Momo Mountains, come with me and I'll be your protector for the rest of your life."

Galo: "?"

What are you talking about?

I'm just being polite with you, I'm just being courteous to you!

Why did you actually take it seriously?

What does it mean to be your bodyguard for life?

Don't we dragons have any pride?

How am I supposed to save face like this?

Although I said that was only one-tenth of my time, it must have been over a thousand years!

Try guarding a place for a thousand years and see what happens!

It's easy to talk when you're not the one doing the work yourself.

Tom was still talking to himself: "I already have plans. In the future, I'm going to build a very big place... about half the size of Hogwarts."

While it could be larger, it would be very troublesome to maintain; half the size of Hogwarts would be just right.

Then, I'll bring Longwen to me and hide him underground. I'll also lift your curse, and you'll stay there to protect me... Why do you look so pale? Don't you like being a bodyguard?"

“No, Tom, I think you’ve misunderstood something…” Gara stammered as she spoke, “How could you be so mean? After Merlin lifted my curse, you put a curse on me yourself, didn’t you?”

Do you know that this curse is extremely evil? If what we are protecting disappears or perishes, we ourselves will also die!

How many years can you live? When you die, I will die with you.

This isn't how you commit suicide for love! It's not romantic at all!

Tom gave Gara a disdainful look: "When did I say I was going to curse you?"

I'm just providing you with a place to stay, and asking you to help me out when I run into trouble!

"Trouble?" Gara asked doubtfully. "You're already so strong, who would dare to cause you trouble? Even if you gave Voldemort ten times the courage, he'd still avoid you, right?"

Tom nodded.

He agrees with this statement.

Voldemort... certainly wouldn't dare to cause trouble for himself, but others would.

Tom had a feeling that his teacher knew about his plan, and although he didn't say it outright, he must be up to something else behind the scenes!

What if the teacher comes after him and causes trouble?

What if Hermione, Misha, and Isabel get into a fight?

If Jialuo could step in and help him at this time, that would be the best outcome.

Tom needs such a caring "guard".

The green line stretched forward, and Tom heard Terry and Lee Sue's voices.

The two voices interrupted Tom's thoughts, and he looked up at the front of his head.

Terry and Lee Su huddled in a corner, hugging each other.

Upon seeing Tom appear before them, Terry and Lee immediately rushed over and hugged him tightly.

"Dad, Dad, you're finally here!" Terry's tears and saliva flowed at the same time. "Tom, you have no idea what we've been through today! My God. Why is the Forbidden Forest so terrible?"

We thought you had some kind of opportunity in the Forbidden Forest, which is why you came in. We never expected that the Forbidden Forest is full of magical creatures.

We encountered several centaurs along the way, who were about to kill us with bows drawn. After a whole night of running around, we also encountered various spiders and other magical creatures that we had never seen before.

Tom, how did you manage to survive in the Forbidden Forest?!

Listening to what the two of them were saying, Tom just found it a little funny: "You didn't know what was in the Forbidden Forest before you rushed in, did you?"

And who told you I got my opportunity in the Forbidden Forest?

While wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth, Terry said to Tom, "Didn't you rush to the Forbidden Forest one night, and from then on, your learning of all kinds of magic became much faster?"

Tom shrugged. "That's not true. Besides, I only came to the Forbidden Forest because something big happened."

Terry looked at Tom with a puzzled expression and asked, "Didn't you find some treasure in the Forbidden Forest?"

"Of course not. Voldemort appeared in the Forbidden Forest that night, so I came to take a look."

Besides, it was Hermione who repelled Voldemort; you could say I did almost nothing.

Terry and Li Su's mouths involuntarily opened wide.

Is that so? Why didn't Tom ever tell them? They thought Tom came to the Forbidden Forest just to find treasure.

They had also heard that there was a classroom in the corridor on the fourth floor of Hogwarts, where a three-headed dog was stationed.

Beneath the three-headed dog was a trapdoor, which was said to connect to a secret chamber at Hogwarts, where treasures from many years ago were kept.

But by the time Terry and Lee Sue arrived there, Cerberus had already disappeared, and they knew they were too late.

In addition, given the various bonuses Professor Dumbledore gave to Ravenclaw at the beginning of this semester, they could vaguely guess that Tom must have done something.

"You two are such idiots. You didn't even write me a letter before you left to let me know. All the other students came looking for you, thinking you were dead."

Terry sniffed hard: "Actually, if Gara hadn't yelled just now, we would really be dead."

Tom was somewhat surprised this time: "You guys actually recognized Gara's cry? I thought you didn't."

The two nodded in unison: "No, we didn't recognize Gara's cry simply because we were too scared and our legs went weak, so we couldn't run."

Before Tom could speak, Gara sneered from behind: "These two cowards, with such little courage, they actually dared to come to the Forbidden Forest. They're really not afraid of death."

"If Tom hadn't come back early this time, you'd all be waiting for Hogwarts to collect your corpses."

Tom waved his hand helplessly: "You two go back first. You should still remember the way back, right? You shouldn't encounter any other magical creatures on the way."

Chapter 171 Change for me!

After seeing the two of them off, Tom resumed his conversation with Garo.

"Do you want the curse lifted now? If so, I'll take you to Merlin right now."

Galo shook his head: "Tom, I know you mean well, but I know Merlin a bit too. I guess he's probably in a state of half-madness right now."

Especially after seeing you, I feel that Merlin's condition is even more worrying.

If I go to Merlin now, that guy will probably only go even crazier, and might even trigger the curse on the spot.

"No, Merlin used Occlumency on himself during this time. I saw him once not long ago, and he was no different from an ordinary person."

As he spoke, Tom recalled what Merlin looked like back then.

Merlin in his mad state is terrifying just to look at.

Of course, what's scary is how others see it. To Tom, he just thinks Merlin is too crazy and deserves to be beaten!

Otherwise, I would have to listen to his crazy ramblings every time I entered the realm of death.